TOURNAMENT PACE OF PLAY POLICY
The Tournament Committee and the Board of the Club at Apple Mountain would like to introduce our new "Tournament Pace-of-Play Policy." The purpose of this Policy is to ensure that each round of golf at Apple Mountain is an enjoyable experience for both Club members and the general public. This Policy will begin to be phased in beginning with our July Tournament, the Red, White & Blue. Full implementation will occur by the Club Championship in September.
This Policy will be in effect for all monthly Club tournaments (in both shotgun and tee time starts) when course conditions are good and carts are allowed on the course. Modifications to this Policy may be implemented during periods of bad weather and/or cart path-only conditions.
Your group will be assigned your starting hole (for tee time starts, this is obviously hole #1). The golf shop will have a list of your starting time, your starting hole assignment, and your “target turn times” for when you should finish the 9th and 18th holes, assuming a 5:24 (five hour and twenty-four minutes or 18 minutes per hole) round of golf.
After all golfers in your group complete the 9th hole and the 18th hole, one member of your group must check-in with the golf shop. That person must inform the staff in the golf shop which group they are a part of. The staff member will then record your group’s “official turn time.” Failure to check-in at the golf shop will incur the same warnings or penalties as those described below.
On your first check-in of the day, if your group is more than 20 minutes behind the group immediately in front of you and behind your target turn time, then the entire group will be given a warning (yellow card). If your group is more than 20 minutes behind the group immediately in front of you, but you are ahead of your target turn time, then no warning will be issued.
Upon the second turn of the day (or completion of your round if you started on the 1st hole), you must again check-in with the golf shop. If your group (1) has received a yellow card, (2) is more then 25 minutes behind the group immediately in front of you, and (3) is behind your second target turn time, each member of your group will be penalized two strokes for slow play. If your group (1) has not received a yellow, (2) is more than 25 minutes behind the group immediately in front of you, and (3) is behind your second target turn time, each member of your group will be penalized one stroke for slow play. All penalties will be added to your previous hole’s score, either the 9th or 18th hole.
If on either your first or second check-in, your group is 40 minutes or more behind the group immediately in front of you and behind your target turn times, each member of your group may be subject to disqualification from the tournament. Upon the conclusion of such a round, the Tournament Committee will meet with the group of players, and then meet separately to discuss appropriate actions and/or penalties.
If you disagree with and wish to appeal a penalty, then you may individually or as a group appeal it to the Tournament Coordinator, Tournament Chairman, or Handicap Chairman immediately after you have completed your round. The decision of the Tournament Committee (headed by the Tournament Chairman) regarding pace-of-play violations and any associated penalties will be final.
• In July tournament, yellow cards will be given out, and red cards will be announced at the end of the tournament. No stroke penalties. No disqualifications.
• In August tournament, yellow cards will be given out, and red cards will be announced at the end of the tournament. Maximum stroke penalty: one stroke. No disqualifications.
• In September, 2009 tournament and all ensuing tournaments, full implementation of policy including disqualifications.
PACE OF PLAY TIPS:
If you are a foursome and your group is at least a full hole behind the the group ahead, please break into two twosomes until you catch up, then rejoin as a foursome.
When searching for a lost ball, the two players sharing a cart may search for the lost ball while the other twosome should continue on and play their next shot. After 5 minutes have expired the lost ball should be abandoned and play continued.
After hitting a tee shot, decide whether or not a provisional ball should be put into play. Always decide on a provisional if there is any doubt about the location of the previous shot.
The time for searching for a lost ball should not exceed 5 minutes. Remember that your group could be penalized 2 strokes for slow play. During non tournament play, you may be asked to skip ahead if your pace is substantially behind.
In order to improve Pace of Play, wave the group behind you up on all par 3's and on hole no. 10. If your group is a hole behind, do not wave groups up, instead, putt out and pick up your pace of play in order to catch up.
After finishing a hole, proceed to the next tee box before writing the score on the score card, cleaning your clubs or cleaning your ball. Play "ready golf" when your group is behind.
Park your cart somewhere between the two balls being played and both cart partners proceed to their respective balls rather than waiting for one to make the shot. Put clubs back in your bag while your partner is making his shot.
Make preparations for your next shot or putt while others are making their shots. Always be ready when it is your turn to play.
When possible, putt out rather than marking your ball and waiting for the away putter to putt.
Your course position should be immediately behind the group ahead. The group behind should not influence your course position as long as you are maintaining adequate pace. Allowing the group behind to play through may slow pace of play, especially, if you are not behind.
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